Book would be an appropriate read as Book 4.5

The Spook's Tale - There is a story about the John Gregory before he became a Spook. I know I'm reading a story about John but the voice of the character sounds very much like Tom to me.

Alice's Tale - There is a story about Alice. It describes some of what happened to her in book four. Stuff that was happening behind the scenes when she went to Pendle to find out what she could about Mam's stolen trunks & Tom's kidnapped family. Also tells some of Alice's past with Lizzie & Agnes.

Grimalkin's Tale - There is also a story about Grimalkin and how she became the witch assassin.

The Gallery of Villians - Mother Malkin / Bony Lizzie & Tusk / The Bane / Morgan / Marcia / Golgoth / Tibb / Wurmalde / Grimalkin / Bloodeye / The Fiend

Love this cover. It captures the look of the nasty witches very well. I'm in the middle of a re-read of the book. I haven't figured out which witch it is on the cover. ... I'm done and I still don't know which witch it is. The witch is crossing running water and Grimalkin is the only one that has trained herself to do that as far as I know. (I learned that on the author's website)

There is a waterfall in the first story but the witch never comes to it. If anyone can tell me who it is and where it was in the book I'd appreciate it. ( )

Joseph Delaney is still the best youth author in my book and is fast becoming one of my overall favorite authors. Check out this series if you haven't yet. ( )

As sixty-year-old John Gregory reflects on the past, he reveals how the world of ghosts, ghasts, witches, and boggarts was exposed to him and he later became the Spook, even though his first intention had been to join the priesthood.

Collection of short stories from the Last Apprentice series. My favorite was learning how the Spook became the Spook. ( )

As a big fan of Delaney's Last Apprentice series, I had to check this book out. But readers beware: this book was published for World Book Day, and was not meant (as some have mistakenly believed) to be a continuation of the series but rather, a supplement to the series and introduction for newcomers to the Last Apprentice universe.

The book consists of three short stories and a small "gallery of villains" which includes a brief description and passage from other novels about certain villains from the series. The short stories center around present day-Spook John Gregory and the events that placed him on the path to becoming a Spook, a story about Alice's origins and training as a witch, and an origin story about Grimalkin, the witch assassin.

John Gregory's story easily steals the show here -it's as chilling as the other Last Apprentice novels and gives some interesting insight into John's past. Grimalkin's story falls in the middle -it's well-paced and unique, but feels like it should have been more than a short story. Alice's story bothered me the most, primarily because it took place during book four of the series, rather than before the events of the series, and, frankly, didn't seem to add much to her character.

All the information here is great back story and is good for fans who are new to the series, but The Spook's Tale and Other Horrors, even with its World Book Day backdrop, left me wanting more. Not just another book in the series, but full books about John, Alice or Grimalkin. Perhaps we'll see these in the future, but until then, I can't wait for more Last Apprentice. ( )